A former Massachusetts police officer has been convicted in federal court of using excessive force on an arrested person and then falsifying official reports to cover it up.

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Forty-seven-year-old Shawn Coughlin was found guilty Wednesday of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law and falsifying a record to impede a federal investigation. The jury deliberated about three hours.

Prosecutors said Coughlin assaulted a handcuffed arrestee in a holding cell at the Plymouth police station in 2011, hitting the man in the head, and kneeing him in the body. They alleged Coughlin falsified official police reports on the incident.

Coughlin faces up to 10 years in prison on the civil rights violation and up to 20 for falsifying the record. He is scheduled for sentencing May 20.